Medical-Reference

Air pollution is a significant determinant of human health. Over the past decades, studies conducted in various parts of the world documented a number of hazardous effects of ambient air pollution on health.

The adverse effects of particulate matter (PM) on health are especially well documented. However, while there is no evident and appropriate safe level of exposure, the PM issue has been seriously underestimated in most of the developing countries, particularly countries in Middle East and South Asia. But it was hard for me to believe that the EU limit for PM 2.5 is still more than twice that recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Moreover, a new study published January 21, 2014 by the British Medical Journal suggested that long-term exposure to particulate matter increases the risk of heart attack. Shockingly, the study also reported that PM exposure was observed in levels below the current specified European limit values.

For the study, scientists evaluated d…

Particulate matter (PM) or particle pollution in the air is a mixture of airborne tiny particles and liquid droplets that is consists of tiny solid fragments, liquid fragments, and fragments mixing with both solid and liquid. These tiny fragments are made up of various components, such as acids, toxic exhaust, organic chemicals, metal, dust, soot, soil, or a mixture of these components.

There are many classes of particulates. However, among these classes, PM 10 and PM 2.5 are the mostly regulated ones.
PM 10 refer to inhalable coarse particles that are with diameter of about 10 micrometers.PM 2.5 refer to fine particles that are with diameter 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
The above diagram showing size distribution of different types of airborne particles in micrometres (µm). Sources of PM 2.5There are both natural and anthropogenic (i.e. manmade) sources of PM 2.5. Carbonaceous (organic) material from traffic causes a direct adverse effect on health and has been identified as a most ev…